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Christchurch's mayor is refusing to be intimidated after boy racers targeted his home, apparently in response to his tough stance against hoons "terrorising" his city.
Bob Parker, better known to many New Zealanders as former host of the television show This is Your Life, said he and his wife Joanna Nicholls-Parker are not going to let it affect them, though police will provide surveillance to ensure it does not escalate.
Mr Parker and his wife noticed a group of cars had gathered outside their central city apartment building, where they live on the eighth floor, on Saturday night after hearing shouting and revving of vehicles.
It follows a series of threats and abuse on websites by the boy racer community.
"We had been told on several other occasions that they were coming and we should watch out," Mr Parker told the Herald.
"This time we hadn't had any sort of warning of this. I'm not intimidated or worried about it. I feel for people in our community for whom this is just not an occasional targeted occurrence, but who actually have to put up with this on a very regular basis."
Mrs Nicholls-Parker said there was clearly a message spreading among boy racers to target her husband.
"But I don't feel threatened. Maybe that's down to the fact we are quite high up in the building."
It is not the first time a public official in Christchurch has been a target. Former Cabinet minister Clayton Cosgrove received death threats and was subjected to cars driving up and down outside his home in 2007 in response to his own crusade against boy racers.
Mr Parker described the antics outside his home as "pretty immature, stupid behaviour".
Police planned to monitor the area near his home following the incident.
"It's not acceptable for them to target anybody, let alone public officials who are simply doing their jobs," said Senior Sergeant Neville Hyland.
Mr Parker has introduced several measures to counter boy racer problems, and recently made an appeal to the Government for tougher laws.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the issue would be considered in a broader review of road safety by the Ministry of Transport this year.
